SMALL MOTOR CENTER

WHY?

As children play with table toys and manipulatives they develop small muscles, eye-hand coordination, attention span, social skills, language, and they learn how to begin and complete a task. They also build concepts about size, shape, color and patterns.

Materials

Table and chairs

Puzzles

Beads

Sewing cards

Pegboard

Dressing toys

Nuts and bolts

Scissors

Pattern cards

Playing cards

Puzzle rack

Lacing activities

Nesting toys

Locks and keys

Take-apart toys

Hole punch

Play dough and props

Parquetry blocks

Paper and pencils

Clay

Board games

Snap toys

Hint! Encourage children to wash their hands before and after using small motor materials.


JUST FOR FUN!

You know all those cardboard food boxes you throw away? Well, here's a great opportunity to give them a second life in your small motor center as you teach your children to reuse and recycle.  

Hint!  Send a note asking families to save their cardboard food boxes for a week and then let the fun begin!

Cardboard Castle – Let children use masking tape to create a castle or other play sculpture.



Puzzles – Cut box fronts into puzzle shapes. Store in zip bags. For younger children use two like boxes. Cut one up and let them place the pieces on the second box.

Stencils and Templates – Cut geometric shapes out of box fronts. Children can trace these with colored pencils, crayons, or markers.
*Cut seasonal shapes or objects that relate to a unit of study for the children to trace.

Sewing Cards – Punch holes around the sides of boxes. Children can sew these with yarn, string, or old shoelaces.

Weaving – Cut notches around the sides of boxes and let children weave through these with yarn.